blurred vision

[calamity22]

I had cataract surgery in the right eye 5 days ago and am supposed to go back for other eye this week. However I am very blurry in the right eye now. Wen back to surgeon yesterday. Vision has improved to 20/20, no swelling, infections, movement of lens, etc. What I can't make him understand is although my vision is 20/20 now it's BLURRY!. It's like looking through a fish bowl. Is this normal? I'm afraid to go get other eye done when I can't see through this one. Then I'll be blurry in both eyes. HELP

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Some people do have trouble with their eyes working together when one is fixed and one isn't IF their refractive error (glasses RX) are quite dissembler.

There is a quick way to tell if this is a problem. See what your eye feels like with your old glasses on and both eyes open, then take your glasses off and see how they feel like this, THEN CLOSE THE UNOPERATED EYE. WITHOUT GLASSES YOUR OPERATED EYE SHOULD BE RELATIVELY CLEAR IF THEY CLAIM ITS 20/20.

As I said don't be rushed. Our practice NEVER rushes anyone into surgery but several practices in our area routinely do surgery a week apart even if the person is having trouble or misgivings about the first eye. I personally think this is wrong and not good practice.

JCH MD

[calamity22]

Thanks so much for your answer. That makes sense to me as my parents (although it was years ago) had theirs  done two and four years apart. However I still have confusion because when the nurse called to schedule my left eye this Thursday and I expressed my concerns she said many people said their first eye never got better till they did the second one because of the eyes trying to compensate for each other. My vision is now 20/20 after surgery and 20/40 in the one without. How have people managed their sight in the past? Shouldn't my "new" eye adapt after awhile, or am I doomed to permanent blurred vision either way I go? What about all the people who loved having it done? So far this is the worst experience of my life and I'm 58.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You should consider postponing surgery on your other eye until the first eye is healed and you are HAPPY. We have many posts from people that were rushed into surgery on the second eye and have problems in both eyes.

CATARACT SURGERY IS ELECTIVE SURGERY; DON'T BE RUSHED INTO A SECOND OPERATION.

jch md